The Whitewater River Watershed Project works for better water quality, less erosion and flooding, habitat for diverse plants and animals, and a land stewardship ethic among citizens who live, work, and play in the watershed.

Work is directed by the Whitewater Joint Powers Board, a group of elected commissioners and Soil and Water Conservation District directors from the three counties. Citizens may join them for regular meetings on the third Thursday of each month at Whitewater State Park Visitor Center, 8:30 a.m.

Current projects build on citizen work begun in 1938, when the Whitewater River flooded 28 times, burying farms and the town of Beaver in silt. Farmers responded then by voluntarily adopting new tillage and management practices, which reduced erosion and flooding and improved farms. Minnesota’s first Soil & Water Conservation District was established here then, to lead and assist.

Concern about massing sediment at the confluence of the Whitewater and Mississippi Rivers brought landowners and local, state, and federal conservation staff together in 1987 to look at upstream sources. A successful erosion reduction project on the Middle Whitewater River led to more opportunities, so the Joint Powers Board formed in 1989 to facilitate shared work.

The Whitewater River and tributaries drain 205,000 acres in southeast Minnesota. The 16.6-mile main stem forms where the North and Middle Branches flow together at the town of Elba. A third main tributary, the South Branch, enters the main stem a short distance downstream.

Whitewater and Carly State Parks are located in this watershed. With adjacent wildlife management and state natural areas, they offer thousands of acres of natural habitat and year-long outdoor recreation opportunities.

Planning & Wise Action On a 10-Year Cycle

At the direction of the Minnesota Legislature, water quality goals and a working action plan are established every 10 years in each major watershed. Work is carried out, and results are measured and reported.

That process is facilitated in the Mississippi River-Winona Watershed by the Whitewater River Joint Powers Board.

OUR WORK

The Whitewater River Watershed Project exists to continue to nurture a land stewardship ethic among those who live, work, and recreate in the watershed. We focus on improving water quality, reducing sedimentation and flooding, and improving habitat for all plants and animals.

Work focuses on local solutions and has included surveys; field tours; multi-year field trials and data sharing; council-selected projects; financial incentives; education events; public speaking; mentoring; and connecting with neighbors both informally and in facilitated community conversations.

Minnesota Department of Agriculture piloted its Agricultural Water Quality Certification program here in cooperation with the council. Members participate in the program and encourage neighbors to use its methodical approach to farm and stream health.

Help Us Monitor Local Streams

Citizen stream monitoring provides important information for decision making and water protection.

Join Hundreds of Volunteers Statewide

Volunteer stream monitors are an important part of Minnesota’s watershed approach to protection and restoration. Changes over time in transparency, appearance and recreational suitability help measure improvements or declines in water quality.

Events!

LEGO Topographic Model for the Whitewater Watershed is Completed!

Allison Bender is a Minnesota GreenCorps member serving at Whitewater State Park until August 2018. One of her outreach and education initiatives involved creating a to-scale Whitewater Valley Watershed model…made out of LEGOS!

The model provides a tactile and visual representation of topography and landuse in a way that is engaging for children and adults. This demonstrates how a watershed’s topography influences land use, and how both topography and land use, influence water quality. Winona State University, local youth scout groups and other organizations worked collaboratively on the design and mapping components of the project.

The model is housed at Whitewater State Park during the summer and at Winona State University during the school year. It is available as an educational tool within the community for events at libraries, fairs and schools.